The Man Who Spent 85 Minutes On The Bench Just Ended Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup.

Merino's stoppage-time strike sends Spain into the World Cup quarter-finals, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's likely final World Cup campaign in heartbreaking fashion. 

It was 91 minutes and 23 seconds on the clock when the ball ended up at the feet of Mikel Merino, who was standing at the perimeter of Portugal's penalty box. He had just come into the match five minutes and forty seconds prior. Before him, Torres had just been substituted in a minute before him and made the final pass. Merino was free to make a run, which he took confidently and slotted the ball into the net.

One goal. Spain through. Ronaldo's World Cup is over.

The match itself had been tight and tense in the way most games between these two teams are  full of caution, short on clear chances. Oyarzabal had the best chance to score in the first half and wasted it. Portugal’s Nuno Mendes hit the bar with his shot. Cristiano Ronaldo’s two shots on target couldn’t beat Spanish goalie Unai Simón. Both teams failed to score after 90 minutes of play.

Then Merino arrived and Spain's bench won it in the final seconds.

Merino had spent the entire match sitting beside De la Fuente, watching a Portugal team do everything it could to contain Spain and nearly get away with it. He came on for Pedri in the 85th minute. By the 91st, he had done what 22 starters across 90 minutes couldn't.

What makes this a story beyond one goal is what it says about the squad Spain have built. They haven't conceded at this World Cup. They have now won five straight matches without leaking a goal, goalkeeper Unai Simón's record extending to 609 minutes without letting one in. They have found goals from players nobody was talking about. Merino's goal is the third decisive one of this tournament scored by a Spanish substitute.

Cristiano Ronaldo was on the other end of the scoreboard and played the entire 90 minutes in spite of his age of 41 and despite the game not being scored until quite late, which indicated that Portugal could keep their hopes alive. His manager Roberto Martínez defended the decision to keep him on. Portugal were chasing a goal, and Ronaldo was the best option for a dead ball or a penalty situation. What he didn't get was a final chance.

After the whistle, he wiped tears from his eyes and walked around the pitch applauding the Portuguese supporters. Then he stood in front of the cameras and said what he needed to say. "I've given my all," he told reporters. "I've won three titles with Portugal. I have a clear conscience."

He made 27 World Cup appearances. Only Messi has made more. He scored 11 World Cup goals. He helped Portugal win the 2016 European Championship and two Nations Leagues. He never won the one trophy his career is still associated with missing.

He's 41. In four years he'll be 45. This, almost certainly, was the last time.

Spain faces Belgium in Los Angeles in the quarter-finals on July 10.